No. 27 Squadron RAF
| No. 27 Squadron RAF | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active |
5 November 1915 – 22 January 1920 |
| Role | Transport and search and rescue |
| Garrison/HQ | RAF Odiham |
| Motto(s) |
Quam celerrime ad astra Latin: "With all speed to the Stars" |
| Equipment | Chinook HC4 |
| Battle honours | Western Front 1916–1918, Somme 1916, Arras, Ypres 1917, Cambrai 1917, Somme 1918, Malaya 1941–1942, Arakan 1942–1944*, North Burma 1944. |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol |
An elephant |
5 November 1915 – 22 January 1920
1 April 1920 – 18 February 1942
19 September 1942 – 1 February 1946
1 November 1947 – 10 November 1950
15 June 1953 – 31 December 1957
1 April 1961 – 29 Mar 1972
1 November 1973 – 31 Mar 1982
1 May 1983 – 1993
No. 27 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Boeing Chinook HC2 from RAF Odiham.
27 Squadron formed at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome on 5 November 1915, soon being equipped with Martinsyde Elephant fighter aircraft, hence the use of an elephant for the squadron badge. It transferred to France early in 1916, but although initially using their aircraft as escort fighters, by the time the Battle of the Somme began, it was clear that the Elephant was unsuitable as a fighter, and the Squadron switched to a bomber-reconnaissance role, taking advantage of the Martinsyde's good range and load carrying capacity,carrying out its first bombing mission on 1 July 1916.
It re-equipped with Airco DH.4s, which carried twice the bombload of the Martinsyde at greater speed and height, while carrying a gunner to defend against enemy fighters, from between September and November 1917, flying missions in support of the British offensive at Cambrai, and low level missions against the attacking German troops during the Spring Offensive of 1918. It started to receive DH.9 bombers in July 1918, but as these proved to be inferior to the DH.4, managed to keep some of its DH.4s until the end of the war. The squadron was disbanded on 22 January 1920.
On 1 April 1920, No. 27 was reformed by re-numbering No. 99 Squadron RAF then in India, flying Airco DH.9A light bombers from Risalpur over the North-West Frontier. These aircraft were eventually replaced by Westland Wapitis in 1928, when the squadron moved to Kohat. In October 1939, the squadron became a flying training school, operating de Havilland Tiger Moth and Hawker Hart biplanes as well as Wapitis, but was re-equipped with Bristol Blenheim bombers by the end of 1940.
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